ChemistryForever
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Large lab
At how many different chemicals would you consider a home lab be a truly big one ? I mean when would you say that a lab starts to be a bit
professional, like man you can do almost everything you want there.
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VSEPR_VOID
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500
Within cells interlinked
Within cells interlinked
Within cells interlinked
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OldNubbins
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42
....and thanks for all the fish......
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CharlieA
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Although a large stock of chemicals is nice, more importantly, in my opinion, is having the necessary apparatus/glassware/(instruments, hopefully), to
do something with all those chemicals. And the more capabilities you have, it seems like the more area you need for it all.
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Ubya
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you could have 1000 chemicals and maybe use the same 50 every time, just buy what you need when you need it. i don't think there is here one of us
that can afford to buy randomly hundreds of reagents with the hope to maybe use it just once in a distant future, if you have infinite space and
infinite money, just buy the whole Sigma catalog
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Sulaiman
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A cautionary tale
When I picked up chemistry as a hobby almost five years ago I was gung-ho and earning an income
so as chemicals were mentioned here on SM I bought them 
I do have a quite nice collection of chemicals (about 100)
BUT
many of them are so far unused 
CAUTION : Hobby Chemist, not Professional or even Amateur
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markx
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Quote: Originally posted by ChemistryForever  | | At how many different chemicals would you consider a home lab be a truly big one ? I mean when would you say that a lab starts to be a bit
professional, like man you can do almost everything you want there. |
Gathering a stockpile of substances shall hardly amount to anything more than just creating a warehouse....unless it is accompanied by a growing
stockpile of knowledge and the inclination towards adaptability.
Gather enough knowledge and before long you can step into any room with confidence that you can do almost everyhing you want, irrelevant of the
collection of substances that surround you 
Exact science is a figment of imagination.......
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happyfooddance
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| Quote: Originally posted by markx |
Gathering a stockpile of substances shall hardly amount to anything more than just creating a warehouse....unless it is accompanied by a growing
stockpile of knowledge and the inclination towards adaptability.
Gather enough knowledge and before long you can step into any room with confidence that you can do almost everyhing you want, irrelevant of the
collection of substances that surround you
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Yep.
But if you are still looking for a list, this thread has some, as well with the mindsets that go along with them:
http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=80997
I have my list as well...
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j_sum1
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To my mind, the thing that sets a lab apart as more than amateur is not size. It is analytical equipment.
I have not done a stock-take, but through various means I probably have around 200 different chemicals. That is not including what I have in the
element collection.
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DavidJR
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I just checked my inventory spreadsheet and I have about 170 rows, though a few of them are really the same chemical in different grades or stored in
multiple locations.
| Quote: Originally posted by j_sum1 | To my mind, the thing that sets a lab apart as more than amateur is not size. It is analytical equipment.
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I'm an amateur and I have an HPLC....
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phlogiston
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Size does not matter. Professional labs make money or generate new knowledge. amateurs just play for the fun of it.
There are plenty small professional labs operated by modestly trained/knowledgeable people.
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"If a rocket goes up, who cares where it comes down, that's not my concern said Wernher von Braun" - Tom Lehrer |
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Abromination
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I think that a good example of a 'large lab' for an amateur would be NileRed's lab. He moved into a new building (not his garage) because he ran out
of room to place apparatus/chemicals. Despite having a very modestly sized space, he is moving again this year into a massive space. Thats a good
example of a more professional large amateur lab.
In terms of a large garage like lab, Extractions&Ire has a fairly decent sized one in his shed/outdoor garage.
That's what I would suggest checking out if you are looking for a visual aid.
List of materials made by ScienceMadness.org users:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nmJ8uq-h4IkXPxD5svnT...
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Elements Collected: H, Li, B, C, N, O, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, I, Au, Pb, Bi, Am
Last Acquired: B
Next: Na
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j_sum1
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Thunderf00t has a very well stocked lab that I would consider amateur in function: even though it has several hundred thousand dollars of equipment in
it. In his latest video he details how he has been supporting technician for a research team... Interesting stuff.
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DavidJR
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NileRed isn’t really an amateur any more though, he’s effectively a professional chemistry educator now.
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Abromination
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| Quote: Originally posted by DavidJR | | NileRed isn’t really an amateur any more though, he’s effectively a professional chemistry educator now. |
Technically, I suppose you are right since he is selling ready made kits and is self employed in a lab, although he still represents us and researches
for the amateur community.
List of materials made by ScienceMadness.org users:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nmJ8uq-h4IkXPxD5svnT...
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Elements Collected: H, Li, B, C, N, O, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, I, Au, Pb, Bi, Am
Last Acquired: B
Next: Na
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Heptylene
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| Quote: Originally posted by Abromination | | Quote: Originally posted by DavidJR | | NileRed isn’t really an amateur any more though, he’s effectively a professional chemistry educator now. |
Technically, I suppose you are right since he is selling ready made kits and is self employed in a lab, although he still represents us and researches
for the amateur community. |
He's living the dream: A hobby that pays for itself! I wonder how long he will be able to make videos, I'm surprised he hasn't been purged by youtube
like chemplayer and others.
And to stay on topic: I'd say a lab is large enough when you cannot list all your chemicals from memory. For me that would be about 100 different
chemicals.
[Edited on 4-1-2019 by Heptylene]
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Magpie
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I have 250-300 chemicals and occaisionaly pick up a new one as required. I never buy a chemical unless I need it for a planned experiment.
The single most important condition for a successful synthesis is good mixing - Nicodem
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lordcookies24
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nile red is no longer an amateur. an amateur means you are following a hobby without getting payed. he is getting payed from youtube so he is a
professional now.
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lordcookies24
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it really depends on what chemicals you have in your lab, some are more useful than others
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Mush
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"A home lab is truly big" when eats up all your time and saved or earned money. When your lab becomes first other things second.
I would consider a home lab very large when one is able to carry out very complex synthesis, using various methods, equipments and perform
intsrumental analysis on that specific synthesized compound. Where most reagents readily available from shelve.
Big lab is where one can reproduce most well known physico-chemical property measurements. For example determining: melting point , boiling point,
pH, redox potential , density and specific gravity, refractive index , optical rotation. Has reagent base to reproduce most school experiment and
perform various complex synthesis.
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